Automatic cable-lifter



(No Model.)

J. B.. PBENCH. AUTOMATIG GABLE LIFTER.

' Patented Feb. 1'0,

ATENT i Orrica JOHN B. FRENCII, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURT.

AUTOMATI CABLE-LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. &46,337, dated February 10, 1891.

Application filed October 27,1390. Serial No. seems. (No model.)

To all whon it 7271603/ concerns Be it known that I, JOHN B. FRENCH, of the city of St. Louis,in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Cable-Litters for Cable Railroads, of which the tollowingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formin g part of this specification.

This is a device for automatically carrying the cable up between the jaws of the grip and closing the jaws upon the cable.

The features of novelty will be set forth in the claims.

Fignrc I is a side elevation showing the cable below the grip and the latter about to act on the levers. Fig. II is a side elevation showing the cable elevated and between the jaws of the grip. Fig. III isadetail top View of the device with parts in position shown in Fig. II.

1 l are standards within the Conduit giving fulcrum-bearing at 2 to the levers 3 and 4, made, preferably, of angle-iron. The shorter arm 5 of each lever carries a grooved pulley U, over which the cable 7 runs. Each lever consists of two parallel bars 3 or AP, as the case may be, and the pulley G has hearing between the bars, the cable passing between the bars when 'the parts are in the position shown in Fig. I. Each of the bars 3 is hinged at 8 to a horizontal bar 9, which at the other end is connected to one of the bars 4: by a slipjoint of any suitable description. shown for this purpose two studs 10 upon the side of the bar 4, which work in a curved slot'll of the bar 9. The form of the slot is such that the bars 9 are at all tines inasubstantially horizontal position, whether elevated, as in Fig. I, or depressed, as in Fig. II. One of the studs 10 at each joint maybe dispensed with and the slot ll made straightinstead of curved, as in practice the bars 9 will in any case have a horizontal position when the grip is passing over them, which is all that is really essential. .It will be seen, also, that the weightof the cable would depress both pulleys equally when they are in the lower position, and thus the bars" 9 would be held in horizontal position when elevated, as in Fig. I, even with a single pin 10 in each slot 11.

I have 12 are inclined bars secured to the tops of the bars 9, and whose office isto close the jaws of the grip 13 upon the cable as the grip passes over the bars 9.

The bars 12 are preferably made of angleiron. In order to guide the bars 9 in their vertical movements and to prevent their spreading asunder, vertical guides 14 are provided, such guides being firmly attached to the conduit at top and bottom.

15 are connterbalance-weights which depress the pulley ends 5`of the levers and raise the bars f) into their normal position, as seen in Fig. I. The weight of the pulleys and cable may be sufficient to render the weights 15 unnecessary. 16 are'stopbars eXtending from guide to guide and limiting the descent of the bars 9.

18 are projections on the bars 0, which bear against the guides 14: when the bars are in their lower position, as seen in Figs. II and III, and which preserve the fulcrum-pin and hinge of the lever 3 from the strain which would otherwise come upon them from the frietion of the grip against the inclined bars 12.

The operation is as follows: The cable is supposed to be below the jaws of the grip, as seen in Fig. I, and the grip, traveling in the direction indicated by the arrow, comes in contact with the bars 3 and depressing their longer arms 17 depresses also the bars 9 and the longer ends 17 of the bars M. This will lift the pulleys and cable into the position seen in Fig. II, bringing the cable between the jaws ot' the grip, and as the grip passes over the bars 9 the jaws areclosed upon the cable by the inclined bars 12. As the grip moves along the bars a the pulleys descend and the parts take their normal position, as seen. in Fig. 1.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination, in a device for lifting cables, of the two levers 3 and 4, each hearing a grooved pulley G at one end and at the other end connected to the horizontal bars 9, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, ina device for lifting cables, of the two levers 3 and 4, each hearing a grooved pulley 6 at one end, and the bars 9, hinged at one end to the lever 3 and having slip-joint connection at the other end with the lever ai, snbstantially as set forth.

IOO

The combination, in a device for lifting pul'leys G, adapted to supportthe cable, the cables, of the two levers 3 and Land thebzu's horizontal bars 9, connected to the end of' 9, hinged at 8 to the lever 3, carrying at one the levers opposite tothepulleys,1heinclined end the pulley 6 and connected at the other bars 12, adapted to close the jaWs of the grip, end to the level' 4: by parts having Slots ll and the guides 14, all snbstantially as and for 15 and by studs 10 on the bars 9 and leve'4, rethe purpose set 'fo'tlL spectively. JOHN B. FRENCH.

4. The combnation, in a device for lifting In presence of cables and applying the grip thereto, of the SAML. KNIGHT,

o two leve's 3 and 4, carrying at one end the THOMAS KNIGHT. 

